KAJ GRICHNIK is a vice president of Booz & Company, and a specialist in manufacturing transformations. Based in Munich, he previously worked for CRL, a supplier to the pharma industry. He holds master’s degrees in geology and microeconomics, and an MBA degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Kaj is the lead author of Manufacturing Realities: Breaking the Boundaries of Conventional Practice (strategy+business books, 2006) and a frequent contributor to strategy+business and other publications.

CONRAD WINKLER is a vice president of Booz & Company, based in Chicago, and an expert in manufacturing strategy, manufacturing transformation, and supply chain management. He was previously a nuclear submariner in the U.S. Navy. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Masters of Management in Manufacturing program (a joint program between the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences), and a BS in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a long-standing contributor to strategy+ business on manufacturing, supply chain, and other operations- related topics.

In researching, writing, and editing this book, the authors drew upon the advice, knowledge, and experience of a number of colleagues at our global management consulting firm. They include the following:

NAVNEET ARORA is a senior associate based in Chicago. A specialist in manufacturing strategy and sourcing, he worked previously for the Dow Chemical Company and has consulted across several industries, including automotive, health care, and consumer products.

MATTHIAS BAEUMLER is a principal based in Berlin. He specializes in operations and R&D strategy as well as supply chain improvement in the global chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries. Prior to his current position, he worked for BASF.

CHRISTIAN BASEDOW, an associate based in Munich, specializes in manufacturing brownfield transformations and supply chain management, with a particular focus on process industries, and has extensive experience in Germany and South Africa. He previously worked for Lurgi AG, the factory engineering company.

HANNES BEHACKER, an associate based in Berlin, is an expert in supply chain and manufacturing across a variety of industries, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aeronautics, and consumer goods. His background includes work for international firms in China and Russia.

HANS BOHNEN, a senior associate, has significant experience leading business excellence programs, and in operational and commercial improvement transformations for the pharmaceutical, chemical, and manufacturing industries. Based in Dusseldorf, he was previously employed by Hoechst AG, Celanese AG, and SGL Group, where he headed the global lean Six Sigma program.

ERIC DUSTMAN, a principal with the firm, is based in Chicago. A specialist in manufacturing and supply chain operations, he was previously employed by Motorola.

AMIT GAUTAM is an associate based in Amsterdam. An expert in product design, manufacturing strategy, and in-plant cost reduction, he previously worked for General Electric Aircraft Engines.

GEORGINA GRENON, director of the firm’s global business development and intellectual capital efforts in operations, manufacturing, sourcing, and logistics, is based in Paris. She has recently led an ongoing initiative in energy-efficient and sustainable supply chain management and sourcing. She oversaw the research, development, and promotion of this book.

DOUGLAS HARDMAN is a vice president based in Chicago. He specializes in operations strategy, designing and implementing new operating models, and supply chain management and was formerly employed by Electrolux’s U.S. subsidiary, Frigidaire.

PETER VON HOCHBERG is a vice president based in Dusseldorf. He has deep expertise in operations with a special focus on the automotive and industrial sectors and strong experience in lean manufacturing. With over 20 years of consulting experience, he has advised major industry clients around the globe on manufacturing challenges.

KEN HOGAN is a senior associate, based in Detroit, who works with automobile and industrial companies to develop manufacturing strategies and analyze competitive cost positions. He was formerly employed by Detroit Diesel Corporation.

THORNTON HUGHES is an associate based in Chicago who specializes in manufacturing strategy for automotive and aerospace companies. He previously worked for Ford Motor Company and Moog Incorporated.

ARVIND KAUSHAL, a principal based in Chicago, is an expert in manufacturing strategy and competitive cost assessment. He focuses on the automotive, industrial, and building products industries.

MARCUS MORAWIETZ is a principal based in the Frankfurt office. He focuses on operations strategy and supply chain performance improvement, primarily in the global chemical and pharmaceutical industries. He previously worked for Degussa (now Evonik), a specialty chemical company.

JERÔME PELLAN, a senior associate based in Paris, specializes in manufacturing and engineering management for the automotive and industrials sectors. He has previously worked for Renault, Nissan, and Volvo Trucks.

JOHN POTTER, a vice president located in London, is an expert in operations strategy, supply chain, and manufacturing management. His previous employer was the U.S. Navy.

ASHISH RANJAN is an associate with expertise in lean Six Sigma based enterprise-transformation, value stream restructuring, and process redesign, with a special focus on the aerospace and automotive industries. Located in London, he previously worked for Tata Motors, India, in its Lean Transformation program.

DERMOT SHORTEN is a vice president based in New York, who specializes in end-to-end supply chain design and performance improvement. He was previously employed at Deloitte Haskins + Sells.

CAROLINE THIEDIG, an associate based in Berlin, specializes in manufacturing and supply chain management in the process and pharmaceutical industries. She is an expert in production network optimization, operating asset effectiveness, and distribution strategies.

SVEN VALLERIEN is a vice president based in the Dusseldorf office. He is an expert in manufacturing, strategic sourcing, and supply chain management. He formerly worked at Th. Goldschmitt AG (now Evonik), a global specialty chemical company.

CHRISTOPH BLISS, our colleague in Germany and China, made an enormous contribution to the book’s research, especially on manufacturing in China. He unexpectedly passed away in Shanghai on December 3, 2007, while this book was being edited. He has been often in our thoughts, and we all have many fond memories of his creativity and zest for life.